After BCCI had reportedly refused to have Pakistan printed on India’s jersey for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as the ‘host nation regulation’, the International Cricket Council has responded to the row.
Recently, The Indian board has refused to have Print Pakistan’s name as hosts in the team’s jersey saying that their matches are set to be played in Dubai. With printing the hosts’ names on the participating team’s jersey is a rule.
However, the ICC has reportedly asked the BCCI that the Indian team is obligated to have ‘Pakistan’ written on the kit as the nation is the original host for the tournament.
“It is the responsibility of every team to add the tournament logo to their jerseys. All teams are obligated to comply with this rule,” said an ICC official.
According to the ICC norms, teams are supposed to print the hosts written on the jersey irrespective of the fact where the matches are being held.
It is reported that BCCI isn’t keen to have Pakistan written on the team’s shirts but the Pakistan Cricket Board has reportedly denied receiving any such information from the Indian Board.
Across the years, when India hosted ICC tournaments – 2016 T20 World Cup, 2023 ODI World Cup, Pakistan has printed India’s name on it. Meanwhile during the 2021 T20 World Cup Pakistan’s jersey featured India’s name despite the tournament taking place in the UAE.
BCCI and PCB has been involved in a tussle after the former refused to send their team to Pakistan for playing in the Champions Trophy 2025. In the end, hybrid model was accepted on conditions that all IND-PAK matches will be played in a neutral venue in the 2024-27 cycle.
Meanwhile, it also remains uncertain whether Indian skipper Rohit Sharma will travel to Pakistan for Captains meet ahead of the ICC event. The eight team tournament will commence on February 19 with the finals being played on March 09.
Pakistan will play their first match against New Zealand on February 19 at National Stadium Karachi.
